Automobile ignition device



April 14, 1953 H. o. STRIKER 2,635,202

AUTOMOBILE IGNITION DEVICE Filed Feb. 19. 1951 Patented Apr. 14, 1953AUTOMOBILE IGNITION DEVICE Henry 0. Striker, Detroit, Mich. ApplicationFebruary 19, 195 1, ScrialNo.21 1,783

This invention relates to an improved electrical device adapted to beintroduced into the electrical ignition circuit of an internalcombustion engine to improve the operation thereof.

An important object of this invention is to provide a voltage amplifyingdevice which is capable of economical manufacture and which is composedof a few simple parts designed for rapid assembly. Another importantobject of the invention is to provide a device of this character whichis readily installable in the ignition circuit of an internal combustionengine without alteration of the existing construction thereof. Afurther important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having certain inner parts thereof constructed and arranged ina novel manner to form an electrical jump barrier.

In carrying out the invention, a housing in the form of a cylindricalcasing of insulative material is provided. The casing is closed at oneend and the closed end is provided with an exposed electrical terminalor contact projecting into the hollow interior of the casing. Theopposite end of the casing is closed by a removable plug member shapedto receive a lead wire of the ignition circuit and provided with anelectrical terminal or contact which projects into the hollow interiorof the casing. Positioned in the hollow interior of the casing arecertain elements which cooperate together to provide an electrical jumpbarrier. These parts include a series of alternately electricallyconductive and non-conductive disc-like elements abuttingly engaging oneanother. Located in the hollow interior of the casing is a coiled springwhich holds the disclike elements in intimate contact with one anotherand also serves as a conductor for electrically connecting the series ofdiscs with one of the terminals. Also included in the structure is acarbon block electrically connected to the other terminal and to theopposite end of the disc series.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of theinvention will become more fully apparent from the followingspecification, appended claim and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view .aken through thedevice and illustrating in dotted outline the connection of the deviceto conventional parts of the ignition circuit, and

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the parts of the device showing same inperspective and in their order of assembly.

1 Claim. (Cl. 31345) Thestructure in its preferred form comprises asubstantially cylindrical housing or casing ID of electricallyinsulative material having a closed end wall E2. The opposite opened endof the casing is closed by a removable plug member M of electricallyinsulative material. The member l4 cooperates with the side walls of thecasing and the closed end wall l2 thereof to form a chamber in thecasing. The inner wall surface of the casing It is formed of twoslightly different diameters to form a shoulder l6 against which theinner end of the plug member I4 abuts. The exterior dimensions of theplug member I4 are such that it frictionally engages the inner wall ofthe casing l0 and is held from accidentaldislodgement therefrom.

The bottom end wall I2 of the casing is provided with an outwardlyprojecting terminal for contact with a part of the ignition circuit suchas the spark plug indicated in dotted outline at l8 or the terminal on adistributor to which a high tension line from the coil is normallyconnected. The electrical contact is preferably a split sleeve 20 asindicated in Fig. 2 threaded on a bolt 22 fixed to the closed end l2 andits head 24 is located in the chamber to serve as an electrical contact.A nut 25 threaded on the bolt serves to tightly secure the contact boltin place.

The removable plug closure member [4 is provided with an outwardlyopening axial bore 28 which serves as a socket for receiving a lead wireindicated in dotted outline at 30. The base end of the socket 28 isprovided with an electrical contact member in the form of a rivet 32which extends through the balance of the plug and projects into thechamber formed by the casing.

Positioned in the upper part of the chamber of the device is a coiledspring 34, the major portion of which has a cylindrical formation asshown in Fig. 2 but one end thereof is spirally formed as at 35 to abutthe closure member l4 and to contactually surround the projecting end ofthe terminal 32. The spring is composed of electrically conductivematerial and serves as a conductor in the operation of the device.

Located in the lower part of the chamber of the device is a carbon block38 shaped to slidingly fit the interior of the casing in. The carbonblock 38 may be provided with a recess 40 for receiving the head 24 ofthe bolt [2. However, the recess is so designed that the carbon block isbrought into electrical contact with the head of the bolt in the finalassembled position of the parts.

Located in the central part of the chamber and positioned between thespring 34 and the carbon block 38 is a series of separate disc-likeelements alternately composed of electrically conductive andnon-conductive materials. One

alternate set of discs in the series is formed of copper or likeelectrically conductive material.

These discs are indicated at 42 in the exploded view of Fig. 2 and arerelatively thicker than the remaining discs of the assembly. Theremaining alternate; set 10f .Z'di,S'cS; are preferably; formed-10f micaor similar electrically insulative-material and are indicated at 44 inFig. l. The mica discs are perforated, preferably in alignment with oneanother. The perforations arerpleierably -cirg cular apertures 46 on theaxis of the casing Hi.

The mica disc elements and their respective-a rless tures provideelectrical jumplbarriersiybetween: the copper discs 42 with whichthyareainte'r leaved.

For the purpose of dissipating the heat which max- I be en rated.dur-i-n gthe. operation .orithe devices coil wire :48; iszmoun edinrencircl-ing; =relationshiplaroundotherclosureplug l4e. Theaop;

posite: endaiof j.theheatodissipating: coil-.7- lead through theplug-to; the -.chamber tintthe anarmer shown at.-t50 ,in- Fig: 2.2 The:heatrdissipating coil is "preferably mounted on the closure plug, byforming a peripheralgroove 52on-the-outsidesurface,- thereof T asshownin the drawing.. c

Thereis provided: asrtheeresultsof -.-this invention, I a small compact1device for improvingttic operation of. internal-combustion engines Thedeviceis interiorly constructed to insure :physical contact-10f the,assembled elements-eat ,all; times and under: all conditions.

What I claim is:

A device .for. usecing theiignitiont circuit-lof-v an internalcombustion engine comprising, in combination, a hollow cylindricalcasing of insulative material closed at one end, a removable plug memberclosing the opposite open end of; said casing and cooperating with theclosed end to form a sealed chamber therebetween, saidplug member havingan outwardly opening socket for receiving a wire lead of the ignitioncircuit and provided with an electrical contact in the socketpproiectingginto ;,the chamber, asaidiclo'sed end of the casing-providedwithanexposed electrical contact extending through the end wall of thecasing and projecting into said chamber, a pluralitywofrdiswioiealternately electrically conductive and, electricallyinsulative materials arranged in same for-r dissipating heatlgenerated,during ,uthe

operation lofathe device;

HENRY 0. S'ITRIKER.

References Cited .in, the: file; ofwthis patent ESTATES L Number NameDate 1,466,232 Jones:" v Aug; 28,1923 1,518,248" Broluska' Dec. -9,'1924 13131494"? Vo'nfLepel' Jan:'4; 1927 1171:1472 Stewart; .Jiine'1-8;1'92-9 1,9663%, YGSIIBI; hiya-011934

